Apparatus for well workover operations



1957 G. H. TAUS CH ET AL APPARATUS FOR WELL WORKOVER OPERATIONS 2 Shegts-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 19, 1953 INVENTORS. Gilbert H. Tausch, BY James R. Dub/M112,

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FIG. 1

FIG. 2

ATTOR G. H. TAUSCH ET AL APPARATUS FOR WELL WORKOVER OPERATIONS Feb. 26, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1953 FIG. 5.

FIG-4.

FIG. 6.

INVENTORS. Gilbert H. Tausc/r, y James R. Dub/inlfl' 2,782,860 APPARATUS F01! WELL WORKOVER OPERATIONS Gilbert H. Tausch and James R. Dublin, HI, Houston,

Tex., assignors, by mcsne assignments, to Esso Research and Engineering Company, liaubeth, N. .L, a corporation of Delaware Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,768

Claims. (Cl. 165-218) The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well. More particularly, the invention is directed to method and apparatus for use in a cased and tubed well in which a tubing is arranged having its lower end fixed at a point'substantially above a point in said well where certain operations are to be conducted. In its more specific aspects, the invention is concerned with method and apparatus for conducting operations below the open end of a tubing string.

The present invention may be briefly described as apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well in which the lower end of the tubing is arranged at a substantial distance above a point in the well where operations are to be conducted without manipulating the tubing. The apparatus comprises a tubular member open at both ends which is adapted to be lowered through and secured to the tubing to form a continuous passageway with the tubing. The apparatus is provided with means, such as a fishing neck and the like, on the first end of the tubular member for lowering and raising the tubular member. Means are provided for suspending the tubular member in the tubing. The tubular member may increase in diameter on its second end to define an elongated chamber. A telescopic tubular extension member is slidably arranged with its first end slidably engaged with the tubular member and with its second end projecting a substantial distance from the second end of the tubular member such that the efiective length of the passageway is lengthened when the tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when the second tubular member is in a first position. The telescoping tubular extension member is provided with an external shoulder on its first end which cooperates with a shoulder in or on the tubular member at its second end.

The present invention is also concerned with a method for removing sand, debris and the like from a cased and tubed well in which the lower end of the tubing isan'anged a substantial distance above the sand without manipulating the tubing. In conducting these operations, a path of flow from the lower end of the tubing or from a higher point in the tubing is formed to the upper level of the sand. A Washing liquid is then flowed down the easing and sand is removed with the washing liquid through the path of flow and the tubing. The path of flow is gradually extended downwardly .a substantial distance below the original upper level of the sand while flowing additional quantities of washing liquid down the casing and removing additional quantities of sand with washing liquid through the extended path of flow and the tubing.

The present invention will be further illustrated by reference to the drawing in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates the embodiment of the present invention withthe apparatus in the upper position;

Fig. 2 illustrates the apparatus in the extended position;

Fig. 3 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention;

tts Patent Fig. 4 shows the use of the present invention in removing sand and/or debris from the tubing;

Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 4 with the apparatus of the present invention in the extended position; and,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5 but illustrates the removal of sand and debris from both the tubing and casing.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral ll. designates a well which has been drilled in the earth from the earths surface, not shown, in which is arranged a casing 12 which is cemented in place with cement 13. A tubing string 14 extends downwardly into the casing 12 from the earths surface, not shown, and is arranged with itsloweropen end 15 at a substantial distance above the level 16 of sand 17 or other debris or the like which has accumulated. in the casing 12. Arranged in the tubing 14 and extending therethrough is a tubular member 18 which has been lowered by means of a wire line, not shown, connected to a fishing head or other engaging means 19. The tubular member 18 is sized for movement through the tubing 14 and is suspended in the tubing l4 on a landing nipple and the like 26 which may include latching clogs, pipe slips and other supporting means. The landing nipple may suitably comprise a sealing member Zita to provide a seal between the tubular member 18 and the tubing 14. While a chevron packing Zi'ia is shown, any effective packing or sealing member may be used.

The tubular member 18 increases in diameter adjacent its lower end to provide an elongated chamber 21 in which is arranged a telescoping tubular extension member 22 which is provided with an external shoulder 23 on its upper end. The lower end of the chamber is provided with an internal shoulder 24 which serves to retain the telescoping member 22 in the chamber 21. It will be seen that the tubular member 18 has a continuous open passage therethrough.

Referring now to Fig. 3 in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, a tubing 14 is arranged in a casing 12 as in Figs. 1 and 2 and there has been landed in the lower end of tubing 14 on a landing nipple 29 a tubular member 50 which is suitably sealed in the tubing 14 by means of packing or sealing member 20a, such as a chevron packing. The tubular member 50 is provided with a fishing neck 19. The tubular member Si) is designed to and may proiect below the open end of the tubing 14. Surrounding and embracing the tubular member 56 is a telescopic extension joint Slwhich is of greater diameter than the tubular member 50. Adiacent the upper end of the telescopic joint 51 is ashoulder 5 2 and a sealing means 53 is provided between the telescopic joint 5'1 andthe tubular. member 50.

The telescopic joint 51 may decrease in diamete'rto provide a lower section 54. It is to be noted thatthc telescopic joint 51 and the lower end 54 serve to extend the length of the tubular member 50 when the telescopic joint 51 and the lower member 54 are in an extended position.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be noted that the tubing 14 is provided with a retrievable valve mandrel 55 which forms part of the tubing 14 and arranged in the retrievable valve mandrel 55 in the instance of Fig. 4 is a retrievable valve 56 and blanks 57 and 58 which serve to close ports 5'9 and 60. The retrievable valve 56 allows communication with the port 61. The lower end or section 54 of the embodiment of Fig. 3 is shown in Fig. 4 at a point below the retrievable valve 56.

In the illustration of Fig. 5, the retrievable valve 56 has been replaced with a blank 62 to close the port 61 and a retrievable valve 63 has replaced the blank 57 to allow communication with port 59. p A

In the showing of Fig. 6, the blank 62 closes the poi-{t 61 and the valve 63 is shown opening the port 59,

whereas the blank 58 closes the port 60. In this showing the end member or section 54 is shown in a lowered position below the open end of the tubing 14, as indicated by the dotted lines, the tubing 14 and the valve mandrel 55 being sealed with a packer, such as 70, to close the annulus A. v

The apparatus of the present invention works in the following manner with respect to Figs. 1 and 2:

When it is desired to move sand from that interval of the well traversing a strata, such as 40, inwhich it is desired to perforate, the apparatus of the present invention is lowered on a wire line, not shown, which may be attached to the fishing neck 19 until it lands in the landing nipple or other engaging means 20. As the apparatus is lowered, the telescoping extension member 21 is in an extended position until it comes into contact with the upper level 16 of the sand 17 which causes the telescoping extension member 21 to move slidably upwardly in the chamber 20 to the position shown in Fig. 1. Thereafter, the salt water or other clean fluid, such as fresh water, oil and the like, is flowed down the annulus A between the tubing 14 and the casing 12 in the direction shown by the arrows causing the sand to be washed out of the well and upwardly through the telescoping member 21, the tubular member 18 and the tubing string 14. As the level 16 of the sand 17 gradually is lowered, the telescoping member 21 follows the level of the sand downwardly in the well until the area or interval 41 in the strata 40 is free of sand such that the interval 41 may be perforated. This may be accomplished by attaching a wire line to the fishing head or neck 19 and pulling the extension member 18 and the telescoping member 21 from the tubing 14. After the apparatus has been pulled, a tubing gun perforator may be lowered through tubing 14 on a wire line and the like and the interval 41 perforated as desired.

The apparatus of Fig. 3 operates similarly to that of Figs. 1 and 2. In this particular instance, however, when it is desired to remove the sand 17 which may have intruded into the casing 12 the tubular member 50 is lowered on a wire line which may be attached to the fishing neck 19 by suitable grab means or other suitable device known to the art. When the tubular member 50 is lowered, the telescopic joint 51 and the end member 54 are in extended position being held in place by the shoulder 54 on a sealing means or retainer 53. When the tubular member 50 is landed in landing nipple 20, the end member 54 and the telescopic joint 51 slide upwardly around the tubular member 50 such that the lower end of the end member 54 is resting on top of the sand 17. Thereafter the annulus A and the tubing 14 are opened at the surface and salt water or other clean fluid circulated down the annulus A to wash out the sand 17 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. As the level of the sand 17 drops, the end member 54 follows the level of the sand downwardly until the sand is removed to the point desired.

The present invention is also applicable to removing sand from the tubing. Not unfrequently when a well becomes sanded up, the sand may extend a considerable distance up the tubing and it is necessary also to remove this sand from the well. To this end the tubing 14 may be provided with a plurality of valve mandrels 55, such as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6, and the device of the present invention utilized to remove the sand as follows:

Assuming that the level of the sand 17 in the tubing 14 and mandrels 55, as shown in Fig. 4, is below the valve 56, the tubing extension member 50 with its telescopic joint 51 and end member 54 are lowered in the tubing 14 until the end member 54 is at the top of the level of sand 17 in the mandrels 55. The valve 56 is open and circulation is had down the annulus A from the surface through the port 61 and the retrievable valve 56 and down the annulus A and finally down through the mandrels 55 and out the open end 71 of the mandrels 55 and thence up into the open end 72 of the end member 54 and to the earths surface as has been described. As the level of the sand 17 drops in the mandrels 55, the tubular extension member slides downwardly following the level of the sand, as shown in Fig. 5.

The valve 56 is then replaced by blank 62 to close the port 61 and the blank 57 is replaced by a valve 63 to open the port 59 to allow circulation through the annulus A and A to lower further the level of the sand 17 in the mandrels 55. The operation may be continued replacing the valve 63 with a blank, such as 58, and the blank 58 replaced by a valve, such as 63, to allow circulation down the annulus A and A and out the open end 71 of the mandrels 55. As the level of sand 17 is removed out of the tubing down into the casing 12, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the end member 54 of the telescopic joint 51 may be extended out the open end 71 of the mandrels 55 to remove the sand from the casing as described with respect to Figs. 1 and 2. It will be necessary, of course, either to remove the packer 70 or to provide for circulation down the annulus A past the packer 70. Such means are well known to the art.

In Fig. 6 the end member 54 is shown by the dotted lines projecting out the open end 71 of the mandrel 55 to allow removal of sand from the casing.

The valves employed and used on the mandrel 55 are well known to the art. For examples of such valves and means for removing and replacing them reference may be had to the Composite Catalog, vol. 1, 1953, page 1059 and elsewhere. 7

The apparatus of the present invention is very useful in cleaning out sand from wells and for use in removing fiuid cement from wells in which it is desired to conduct squeeze cementing operations where low water loss cement is used.

The nature and objects of the present invention having been completely described and illustrated, what we wish to claim as new and useful and to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well without manipulating said tubing which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on its upper end, said tubular member being lowerable through and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous open passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, and a telescoping tubular extension member slidably engageable with its first end with the lower end of said tubular member and with its second end projecting a substantial distance from the second end of the tubular member such that the effective length of said passageway is lengthened when said tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when said tubular extension member is in a first position, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

2. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well without manipulating said tubing which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on its upper end, said tubular member being lowerable through and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous open passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, means for suspending said tubular member in said tubing, said tubular member increasing in diameter on its lower end to define an elongated chamber, and a telescoping tubular extension member slidably arranged with its first end in said chamber and with its second end projecting a substantial distance from the second end of the tubular member such that the effective length of said passageway is lengthened when said tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when said tubular extension member is in a first position, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

3; Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well without manipulating said tubing which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on its upper end, said tubular member being lowerable through and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous open passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, means for suspending said tubular member in said tubing, said tubular member increasing in diameter on its lower end to define an elongated chamber, an internal shoulder in the lower end of said elongated chamber, a telescoping tubular extension member slidably arranged with its upper end in said chamber and with its lower end projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the ef fective length of said passageway is lengthened when said tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when said tubular extension member is in a first position, and an external shoulder on the first end of said telescoping tubular extension member for retaining said telescoping tubular extension member within said first chamber by contact with said internal shoulder, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

4. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well without manipulating said tubing which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on its upper end, said tubular member being lowerable through and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous open passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, said tubular member increasing in diameter on its lower end to define an elongated chamber, a telescoping tubular extension member slidably arranged with its upper end in said chamber and with its lower end projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the effective length of said passageway is lengthened when said tubular extension member is in avsecond position and shortened when said tubular extension member is in a first position, and means for holding said tubular extension member in said chamher, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

5. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well without manipulating said tubing which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on its upper end, said tubular member being lowerable through and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, means for suspending said tubular member in said tubing, a telescoping tubular extension member slidably engageable with its upper end with the lower end of said tubular member and with its lower end projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the efiective length of said passageway is lengthened when said tubular extension member is in a 6 second position and shortened when said tubular extension member is in a first position, andmeans for holding said tubular extension member in engagement with said tubular member, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

6. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well without manipulating said tubing which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized formovement through the tubing, said tubular member being lowerable through and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous open passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, means for suspending said tubular member in the lower end of said tubing, a telescoping tubular extension member slidably engageable with its upper end with said tubular member and with its lower end projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the effective length of said passageway is lengthened when said tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when said tubular extension member is in a first position, means for holding said tubular extension member in engagement with said tubular member, and packing means for sealing between the lower end of said tubing and the upper end of said tubular member, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

7. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage andsized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on the upper end, said tubular member being lowerable in and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, a telescopic tubular extension member slidably embracing with its upper end said tubular member and with its lower end projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the effective length of the passageway is lengthened when the tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when the tubular extension member is in a first position, and means for holding said tubular extension member in engagement with said tubular member, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

8. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on its upper end said tubular member being lowerable in and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous open passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and raising said tubular member, means for securing said tubular member in the lower end of said tubing, a telescopic tubular extension member of a greater diameter than the tubular member slidably embracing with its upper end the lower end of said tubular member and with its lower end projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the eifective length of the passageway is lengthened when the tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when the tubular extension member is in a first position, and means for holding said tubular extension member in engagement with said tubular member, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

9. Apparatus for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing and provided with external sealing means on its upper end, said tubular member being lowerable in and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous passageway with said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member for lowering and retrieving said tubular member in and from said tubing, means for securing said tubular member in the lower end of said tubing, a telescopic tubular extension member with its upper end of a greater diameter than the tubular member slidably embracing with its upper end the lower end of said tubular member and with its lower end decreasing in diameter and projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the effective length of 'the passageway is lengthened when the tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when the tubular extension member is in a first position, means for holding said tubular extension member in engagement with said tubular member, and means for sealing the space between the telescopic tubular extension member and the tubular member, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

10. Apparauts for conducting operations in a cased and tubed well which comprises a tubular member having a continuous open passage and sized for movement through the tubing, said tubular member being lowerable in and releasably and sealingly secured in the lower end of said tubing to form a continuous passageway with said tubing, means for securing said tubular member in said tubing, means on the upper end of said tubular member -for lowering and raising said'tubular member, a telescopic tubular extension member with its upper end of a greater diameter than the tubular member and slidably embracing with its upper end the lower end of said tubular member and with the lower end of the telescopic tubular extension member decreasing in diameter and projecting a substantial distance from the lower end of the tubular member such that the effective length of the passageway is lengthened when the tubular extension member is in a second position and shortened when the tubular extension member is in a first position, means for holding said tubular extension member in engagement with said tubular member, means for sealing the space between the telescopic tubular extension member and the tubular member, and packing means for sealing between the tubular member and the tubing, said tubular extension member being adapted to move freely from said first to said second position and vice versa.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 717,252 McRoberts. Dec. 30, 1902 1,338,460 Morrison Apr. 27, 1920 1,484,601 Carmichael Feb. 19, 1924 1,492,042 McGee Apr. 29, 1924 1,727,080 Putnam Sept. 3, 1929 2,120,132 Hawkins m June 7, 1938 2,141,672 Taylor Dec. 27, 1938 2,203,595 Hall et al. June 4, 1940 2,222,233 Mize Nov. 19, 1940 2,274,940 Stoddard Mar. 3, 1942 2,693,854 Abendroth Nov. 9, 1954 2,703,623 Baker Mar. 8, 1955 

